I appreciate what this book is trying to accomplish but it seemed a little cliche to me.

This is THE most timely and relevant book for my neighborhood in Seattle, which is undergoing the same social and emotional turbulence of gentrification as Portland depicted in this story.

Complications of loyalty, repercussions of activism, and the changing nature of childhood promises add depth. Main character Maya is the only character fully realized but I recognized all the rest as the community I interact with daily. My own experiences fleshed out what some might consider to be flimsy secondaries.

I think this book pokes the bruise of uncomfortable topics that many teens feel but cannot necessarily articulate. There is a lot to discuss here and it needs to be discussed for teens to get a fuller picture of all the issues. This is a classroom read or book club pick with lasting importance, not the fast pace and high drama that teens might choose for themselves.

I liked the themes and writing in this book. It was interesting to see the tensions in a community undergoing gentrification. What kind of slowed me down though was that this was more like a description of Maya's senior year of high school with the ups and downs of that rather than being a plot-driven novel. And while there is room for a book like that, I just left it wishing for more resolution than I got.

The premise here is refreshing: identical twins Maya and Nikki are growing apart for the first time, as Nikki embraces their neighborhood's transformation from the hood to "up and coming", while Maya feels like the trendy neighborhood welcomes everyone but the working-class black citizens who have always lived there. Maya doesn't understand why Nikki would want anything different than what they've always planned. Nikki doesn't understand why Maya has to be an activist before everything else.
The book stays mostly in slice of life territory, and manages to discuss things like racial heritage and microaggressions without the angst and drama many teen books crank up to 11.

The writing is stilted and stiff in places, and some of the dialogue turns after school special la-di-da, which is a shame because otherwise I would rate it higher. Good story, solid observations about life, and I really enjoyed the characters of the best friend with a rough home life and the wise but over-committed dad.

Two twin sister find different ways to deal with the gentrification of their neighborhood. This novel explores the black diaspora that exist in different areas of the black community. Great read for teens who are tuned into the challenges that exist within the melting pot of our society. This novel also deals with effective means of challenging authority and learning about the past as you move into a new future.

This is a book everyone should read.

Beautifully written and thought-provoking, This Side of Home takes a refreshingly honest look at how cultural changes affects not only the relationship between twin sisters Maya and Nikki, but everyone around them, regardless of the color of their skin.

What I Liked:
~ The sisterly bond between Maya and Nikki, how they challenged and supported each other.
~ Their longtime friendship with Essence as well as the ones they formed with the new kids.
~ Maya and Nikki's parents, because they are FANTASTIC.
~ The conversation between Maya and Nikki that takes place on pages 234-235 (in the ARC version) was eye-opening and made me want to wrap both girls up in a hug.
~ Tony.
~ Gentrification plays a key role in the changes that take place and while it tends to be a hot topic, Renée Watson depicts both sides of the discussion without demonizing either one.

Favorite Quote(s):
I know how I felt always being portrayed as the victim. I'm sure being seen as the perpetrator feels just as awful.

"Am I a hypocrite?" I ask.
"You're a black girl who fell in love with a white boy."
"And a black girl who cares about race and class issues."
[She] leans back in the chair. "You can be both."

Mom tells me, "Some people will like you and some won't. What's more important is: Do you like yourself?"

This book is, for me (a white grandmother who has lived mostly in small towns) a window on a part of American culture in which I have no experience. I not only enjoyed the book but learned from it.

Review coming! LOVED IT tho.